13 fun facts about Joao Felix

While Felix's both parents are teachers, he isn't the sole football talent in his family. The Chelsea forward's brother Hugo Felix is also a footballer, who like his sibling rose through the ranks of Benfica's prestigious academy.

While he hasn't yet made his debut for the senior side, Hugo is regarded as one of the most promising players at Benfica at the young age of 19, very similar to his older brother.

It will come as a surprise to some, but Felix's entire youth career wasn't focused in the academy of Benfica. In reality, during the dormant stage of his career, the Portuguese forward had joined the youth academy of rivals Porto at the very young age of eight.

It was only at the age of 15 that he joined Benfica and rapidly rose to the limelight as one of the best prospects in world football.

The Chelsea forward had a tough time during his stay at Porto. At first, it was difficult for him to travel daily up and down from his home to the training ground. As a result, Felix had to move out of his family's house at the young age of 12.

Despite moving closer to Porto's academy, things didn't get any easier. he was barely getting any play time and had lost confidence in himself. If it weren't for his father's encouragement, we may never have seen the great talent he possesses.

Felix's first goal was a dream come true for any young athlete making his way through the ranks of Benfica's academy. On 25 August 2018, a week after his senior debut, the young attacker would give his side the lead against Sporting CP in the Lisbon derby.

In doing so, he also became the youngest scorer in the fixture's history at the age of 18.

The night when the world got to know how great a talent Felix is was 11 April 2019. The Portuguese forward would score a hat-trick in Benfica's first-leg quarter-final tie against Eintracht Frankfurt. His amazing performance wasn't enough to advance his side to the next round, as Frankfurt progressed on the away goals after a 2-0 victory in the second leg.

However, the Chelsea forward etched his name in football's history books by becoming the youngest-ever player (at the age of 19 years and 152 days) to score a hat-trick in the competition.

Perhaps it really was destiny for Felix to become a footballer from the moment he was born. From a young age, the sport was everything for the future Portuguese national team star.

He turned his entire living room into a football field where he would play all day, with his younger brother Hugo joining in as well. No wonder both would go on to become professional footballers.

Once Felix got going for Benfica, he never stopped. Soon comparisons began to be made with Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo, with many deeming his successor.

However, the Benfica academy product's stats were closer to those of Lionel Messi at the same age. Felix contributed eight goals and three assists in the first 1000 minutes of his career, numbers which are only beaten in the sport's history by Messi who scored 13 goals and provided eight assists in the same time.

Felix's move to Atletico Madrid in 2019 for €126m made him the fourth-most expensive signing in the history of football. However, this wasn't the only transfer record broken by the player leaving Benfica.

He became Benfica's most-expensive sale, as well as Atletico Madrid's highest-every get. The fee meant he was the second-most expensive teenager in the world after Kylian Mbappe.

Many fans have compared Felix's looks with that of AC Milan and Brazil legend Kaka, with both looking eerily similar. However, it's not just physical appearances where the Portuguese forward resembles the 2002 World Cup winner.

In an interview with The Athletic, the forward stated that he mimics Kaka's dribbling style and explosive ball-progressing, having looked up to the Brazilian since he was a child.

In 2019, Joao Felix became the second Portuguese player after fellow Benfica academy product Renato Sanches to win the esteemed Golden Boy prize, given to felicitate the best U-21 player in Europe that respective season.

He ranked ahead of then Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho to clinch the award, later ranking 28th in the Ballon d'Or polls.

While Felix has mostly maintained a low-key, controversy-free image since he came into the limelight, tabloids began to spice up his personal life in 2022. Many reports suggested that the forward's girlfriend Margarida Corceiro had cheated on him with then Sporting CP full-back Pedro Porro.

Both Corceiro and Porro were quick to deny these allegations and criticised the media for spreading such rumours, stating they were close friends and nothing more.

Felix's debut for Chelsea began on a high but sadly ended on the lowest of lows. The forward was sent off for a lunging tackle on Fulham defender Kenny Tete after 58 minutes, which also meant he missed the Blue's next three games due to violent conduct.

With his red card, Felix joined a not-so-prestigious list of 22 players who have received a red card in their Premier League debut, the 13th to have done so with a straight red card.

Covid-19 shocked the entire world three years ago and brought many facets of life to a standstill. There was much panic caused by the illness spreading, and the stoppage to everyday life as a result of it. However, like many others, Felix did his best to spread hope and help those lesser privileged than him who were suffering.

In April 2020, donated life-saving equipment to a hospital in his hometown of Viseu, Portugal to help combat Covid-19.